The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Graf von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt became ill in November 1942 and had to return to Germany. He died in the Reservelazarett 123 in Berlin-Zehlendorf.
Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt himself was a descendant of Danish-Holsteiner nobility, he was the son of Graf Ernst von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt.
Bibliography.
Iron Cross (1914) 2nd and 1st Class Wound Badge (1918) in Black Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th to 1st class Sudetenland Medal Eastern Front Medal Demyansk Shield Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (19 September 1939) 1st Class (20 October 1939) Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight"s Cross on 15 July 1941 as General der Infanterie and commanding general of the World War II Armeekorps 103rd Oak Leaves on 27 June 1942 as General der Infanterie and commanding general of the World War II Armeekorps.
